This Year

I broke free on a Saturday morning
I put the pedal to the floor
Headed north on mills avenue
And listened to the engine roar
My broken house behind me And good things ahead
A girl named Kathy
Wants a little of my time
Six cylinders underneath the hood
Crashing and kicking
Aha! Listen to the engine whine
I am going to make it through this year
If it kills me I am going to make it through this year
If it kills me I played video games in a drunken haze
I was seventeen years young
Hurt my knuckles punching the machines
The taste of scotch rich on my tongue
And then Kathy showed up And we hung out
Trading swigs from a bottle
All bitter and clean
Locking eyes
Holding hands
Twin high maintenance machines
I am going to make it through this year
If it kills me I am going to make it through this year
If it kills me I drove home in the California dusk
I could feel the alcohol inside of me hum
Pictured the look on my stepfather’s face
Ready for the bad things to come
I down shifted as I pulled into the driveway
The motor screaming out
Stuck in second gear
The scene ends badly
As you might imagine
In a cavalcade of anger and fear
There will be feasting and dancing
In Jerusalem next year
I am going to make it through this year
If it kills me I am going to make it through this year
If it kills me